Chapter 981

1. One who mines; a digger for metals, etc.; one engaged in the business of getting ore, coal, or precious stones, out of the earth; one who digs military mines; as, armies have sappers and miners .

2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) Any of numerous insects which, in the larval state, excavate galleries in the parenchyma of leaves. They are mostly minute moths and dipterous flies. (b) The chattering, or garrulous, honey eater of Australia ( Myzantha garrula ).

Miner's elbow (Med.) , a swelling on the black of the elbow due to inflammation of the bursa over the olecranon; -- so called because of frequent occurrence in miners. -- Miner's inch , in hydraulic mining, the amount of water flowing under a given pressure in a given time through a hole one inch in diameter. It is a unit for measuring the quantity of water supplied.

Mineral <Xpage=926>

Min"er*al (?) , n. [F. min\'82ral , LL. minerale , fr. minera mine. See Mine , v. i. ]

1. An inorganic species or substance occurring in nature, having a definite chemical composition and usually a distinct crystalline form. Rocks, except certain glassy igneous forms, are either simple minerals or aggregates of minerals.

2. A mine. [Obs.]

Shak.

3. Anything which is neither animal nor vegetable, as in the most general classification of things into three kingdoms (animal, vegetable, and mineral).

Mineral <Xpage=926>

Min"er*al , a. 1. Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or of minerals; as, a mineral substance .

2. Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters .

Mineral acids (Chem.) , inorganic acids, as sulphuric, nitric, phosphoric, hydrochloric, acids, etc., as distinguished from the organic acids . -- Mineral blue , the name usually given to azurite, when reduced to an impalpable powder for coloring purposes. -- Mineral candle , a candle made of paraffine. -- Mineral caoutchouc , an elastic mineral pitch, a variety of bitumen, resembling caoutchouc in elasticity and softness. See Caoutchouc , and Elaterite . -- Mineral chameleon (Chem.) See Chameleon mineral , under Chameleon . -- Mineral charcoal . See under Charcoal . -- Mineral cotton . See Mineral wool (below). -- Mineral green , a green carbonate of copper; malachite. -- Mineral kingdom (Nat. Sci.) , that one of the three grand divisions of nature which embraces all inorganic objects, as distinguished from plants or animals. -- Mineral oil . See Naphtha , and Petroleum . -- Mineral paint , a pigment made chiefly of some natural mineral substance, as red or yellow iron ocher. -- Mineral patch . See Bitumen , and Asphalt . -- Mineral right , the right of taking minerals from land. -- Mineral salt (Chem.) , a salt of a mineral acid. -- Mineral tallow , a familiar name for hatchettite , from its fatty or spermaceti-like appearance. -- Mineral water . See under Water . -- Mineral wax . See Ozocerite . -- Mineral wool , a fibrous wool-like material, made by blowing a powerful jet of air or steam through melted slag. It is a poor conductor of heat. <-- = glass wool? Also used in sound insulation. -->

Mineralist <Xpage=926>

Min"er*al*ist , n. [Cf. F. min\'82raliste .] One versed in minerals; mineralogist. [R.]

Mineralization <Xpage=926>

Min`er*al*i*za"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. min\'82ralisation .]

1. The process of mineralizing, or forming a mineral by combination of a metal with another element; also, the process of converting into a mineral, as a bone or a plant.

2. The act of impregnating with a mineral, as water.

3. (Bot.) The conversion of a cell wall into a material of a stony nature.

Mineralize <Xpage=926>

Min"er*al*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mineralized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mineralizing (?) .] [Cf. F. min\'82raliser .]

1. To transform into a mineral.

In these caverns the bones are not mineralized . Buckland.

2. To impregnate with a mineral; as, mineralized water .

Mineralize <Xpage=926>

Min"er*al*ize , v. i. To go on an excursion for observing and collecting minerals; to mineralogize.

Mineralizer <Xpage=926>

Min"er*al*i`zer (?) , n. An element which is combined with a metal, thus forming an ore. Thus, in galena, or lead ore, sulphur is a mineralizer ; in hematite, oxygen is a mineralizer .

Mineralogical <Xpage=926>

Min`er*al*og"ic*al (?) , a. [Cf. F. min\'82ralogique . See Mineralogy .] Of or pertaining to mineralogy; as, a mineralogical table .

Mineralogically <Xpage=926>

Min`er*al*og"ic*al*ly , adv. According to the principles of, or with reference to, mineralogy.

Mineralogist <Xpage=926>

Min`er*al"o*gist (?) , n. [Cf. F. min\'82ralogiste .]

1. One versed in mineralogy; one devoted to the study of minerals.

2. (Zo\'94l.) A carrier shell ( Phorus ).

Mineralogize <Xpage=926>

Min`er*al"o*gize (?) , v. i. To study mineralogy by collecting and examining minerals.

Miss Edgeworth.

Mineralogy <Xpage=926>

Min`er*al"o*gy (?) , n. ; pl. Mineralogies (#) . [ Mineral + -logy : cf. F. min\'82ralogie .]

1. The science which treats of minerals, and teaches how to describe, distinguish, and classify them.

2. A treatise or book on this science.

<-- minerology, minerological = misspelling for mineralogy, mineralogical -->

Minerva <Xpage=926>

Mi*ner"va (?) , n. [L.] (Rom. Myth.) The goddess of wisdom, of war, of the arts and sciences, of poetry, and of spinning and weaving; -- identified with the Grecian Pallas Athene.

Minette <Xpage=926>

Mi*nette" (?) , n. The smallest of regular sizes of portrait photographs.

Minever <Xpage=926>

Min"e*ver (?) , n. Same as Miniver .

Minge <Xpage=926>

Minge (?) , v. t. [AS. myngian ; akin to E. mind .] To mingle; to mix. [Obs.]

Minge <Xpage=926>

Minge , n. [Prob. corrupt. fr. midge .] (Zo\'94l.) A small biting fly; a midge. [Local, U. S.]

Mingle <Xpage=926>

Min"gle (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mingled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mingling (?) .] [From OE. mengen , AS. mengan ; akin to D. & G. mengen , Icel. menga , also to E. among , and possibly to mix . Cf. Among , Mongrel .]

1. To mix; intermix; to combine or join, as an individual or part, with other parts, but commonly so as to be distinguishable in the product; to confuse; to confound.

There was... fire mingled with the hail. Ex. ix. 24.

2. To associate or unite in society or by ties of relationship; to cause or allow to intermarry; to intermarry.

The holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands. Ezra ix. 2.

3. To deprive of purity by mixture; to contaminate.

A mingled , imperfect virtue. Rogers.

4. To put together; to join. [Obs.]

Shak.

5. To make or prepare by mixing the ingredients of.

[He] proceeded to mingle another draught. Hawthorne.

Mingle <Xpage=926>

Min"gle , v. i. To become mixed or blended.

Mingle <Xpage=926>

Min"gle , n. A mixture. [Obs.]

Dryden.

Mingleable <Xpage=926>

Min"gle*a*ble (?) , a. That can be mingled.

Boyle.

Mingledly <Xpage=926>

Min"gled*ly (?) , adv. Confusedly.

Mingle-mangle <Xpage=926>

Min"gle-man`gle (?) , v. t. [Reduplicated fr. mingle .] To mix in a disorderly way; to make a mess of. [Obs.]

Udall.

Mingle-mangle <Xpage=926>

Min"gle-man`gle , n. A hotchpotch. [Obs.]

Latimer.

Minglement <Xpage=926>

Min"gle*ment (?) , n. The act of mingling, or the state of being mixed.

Mingler <Xpage=926>

Min"gler (?) , n. One who mingles.

Minglingly <Xpage=926>

Min"gling*ly (?) , adv. In a mingling manner.

Minaceous <Xpage=926>

Min`*a"ceous (?) , a. Of the color of minium or red lead; miniate.

Miniard <Xpage=926>

Min"iard (?) , a. Migniard. [Obs.]

Miniardize <Xpage=926>

Min"iard*ize (?) , v. t. To render delicate or dainty. [Obs.]

Howell.

Miniate <Xpage=926>

Min"i*ate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Miniated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Miniating (?) .] [L. miniatus , p. p. of miniare . See Minium .] To paint or tinge with red lead or vermilion; also, to decorate with letters, or the like, painted red, as the page of a manuscript.

T. Wharton.

Miniate <Xpage=926>

Min"i*ate (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the color of red lead or vermilion; painted with vermilion.

Miniature <Xpage=926>

Min"i*a*ture (?; 277) , n. [It. miniatura , fr. L. miniare . See Miniate , v. , Minium .]

1. Originally, a painting in colors such as those in medi\'91val manuscripts; in modern times, any very small painting, especially a portrait.

2. Greatly diminished size or form; reduced scale.

3. Lettering in red; rubric distinction. [Obs.]

4. A particular feature or trait. [Obs.]

Massinger.

Miniature <Xpage=926>

Min"i*a*ture , a. Being on a small; much reduced from the reality; as, a miniature copy .

Miniature <Xpage=926>

Min"i*a*ture , v. t. To represent or depict in a small compass, or on a small scale.

Miniaturist <Xpage=926>

Min"i*a*tur`ist (?) , n. A painter of miniatures.

Minibus <Xpage=926>

Min"i*bus (?) , n. [L. minor less + -bus , as in omnibus .] A kind of light passenger vehicle, carrying four persons.

Minie ball <Xpage=926>

Min"ie ball` (?) . [From the inventor, Captain Mini\'82 , of France.] A conical rifle bullet, with a cavity in its base plugged with a piece of iron, which, by the explosion of the charge, is driven farther in, expanding the sides to fit closely the grooves of the barrel.

Minie rifle <Xpage=926>

Min"ie ri"fle (?) . A rifle adapted to minie balls.

Minify <Xpage=926>

Min"i*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Minified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Minifying (?) .] [L. minor less + -fly .]

1. To make small, or smaller; to diminish the apparent dimensions of; to lessen.

2. To degrade by speech or action.

Minikin <Xpage=926>

Min"i*kin (?) , n. [OD. minneken a darling, dim. of minne love; akin to G. minne , and to E. mind .]

1. A little darling; a favorite; a minion. [Obs.]

Florio.

2. A little pin. [Obs.]

Minikin <Xpage=926>

Min"i*kin , a. Small; diminutive.

Shak.

Minim <Xpage=926>

Min"im (?) , n. [F. minime , L. minimus the least, smallest, a superl. of minor : cf. It. minima a note in music. See Minor , and cf. Minimum .]

1. Anything very minute; as, the minims of existence ; -- applied to animalcula; and the like.

2. The smallest liquid measure, equal to about one drop; the sixtieth part of a fluid drachm.

3. (Zo\'94l.) A small fish; a minnow. [Prov. Eng.]

4. A little man or being; a dwarf. [Obs.]

Milton.

5. (Eccl. Hist.) One of an austere order of mendicant hermits of friars founded in the 15th century by St. Francis of Paola.

6. (Mus.) A time note, formerly the shortest in use; a half note, equal to half a semibreve, or two quarter notes or crotchets.

7. A short poetical encomium. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Minim <Xpage=926>

Min"im , a. Minute. " Minim forms."

J. R. Drake.

Miniment <Xpage=926>

Min"i*ment (?) , n. [Prob. corrupt. of moniment .] A trifle; a trinket; a token. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Minimization <Xpage=926>

Min`i*mi*za"tion (?) , n. The act or process of minimizing.

Bentham.

Minimize <Xpage=926>

Min"i*mize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Minimized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Minimizimg (?) .] To reduce to the smallest part or proportion possible; to reduce to a minimum.

Bentham.

Minimum <Xpage=926>

Min"i*mum (?) , n. ; pl. Minima (#) . [L., fr. minimus . See Minim .] The least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible, in a given case; hence, a thing of small consequence; -- opposed to maximum .

Minimum thermometer <Xpage=926>

Minimum thermometer , a thermometer for recording the lowest temperature since its last adjustment.

Minimus <Xpage=926>

Min"i*mus (?) , n. ; pl. Minimi (#) . [L. See Minim .]

1. A being of the smallest size. [Obs.]

Shak.

2. (Anat.) The little finger; the fifth digit, or that corresponding to it, in either the manus or pes.

Mining <Xpage=926>

Min"ing (?) , n. [See Mine , v. i. ] The act or business of making mines or of working them.

Mining <Xpage=926>

Min"ing , a. Of or pertaining to mines; as, mining engineer; mining machinery; a mining region.

Mining engineering . See the Note under Engineering .

Minion <Xpage=926>

Min"ion (?) , n. Minimum. [Obs.]

Burton.

Minion <Xpage=926>

Min"ion , n. [F. mignon , fr. OHG. minni love, G. minne ; akin to E. mind . See Mind , and cf. Mignonette .]

1. A loved one; one highly esteemed and favored; -- in a good sense. [Obs.]

God's disciple and his dearest minion . Sylvester.

Is this the Athenian minion whom the world Voiced so regardfully? Shak.

2. An obsequious or servile dependent or agent of another; a fawning favorite.

Sir J. Davies.

Go, rate thy minions , proud, insulting boy! Shak.

3. (Print.) A small kind of type, in size between brevier and nonpareil.

&hand; This line is printed in minion type.

4. An ancient form of ordnance, the caliber of which was about three inches. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

Minion <Xpage=926>

Min"ion , a. [See 2d Minion .] Fine; trim; dainty. [Obs.] "Their... minion dancing."

Fryth.

Minionette <Xpage=926>

Min`ion*ette" (?) , a. Small; delicate. [Obs.] "His minionette face."

Walpole.

Minionette <Xpage=926>

Min"ion*ette , n. (Print.) A size of type between nonpareil and minion; -- used in ornamental borders, etc.

Minioning <Xpage=926>

Min"ion*ing (?) , n. Kind treatment. [Obs.]

Minionize <Xpage=926>

Min"ion*ize (?) , v. t. To flavor. [Obs.]

Minionlike, Minionly <Xpage=926>

Min"ion*like` (?) , Min"ion*ly , a. & adv. Like a minion; daintily.

Camden.

Minionship <Xpage=926>

Min"ion*ship , n. State of being a minion. [R.]

Minious <Xpage=926>

Min"ious (?) , a. [L. minium red lead.] Of the color of red or vermilion. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Minish <Xpage=926>

Min"ish (?) , v. t. [OE. menusen , F. menuiser to make small, cut small, fr. (assumed) LL. minutiare , for minutare , fr. L. minutus small. See Minute , a. , and cf. Diminish , Minge .] To diminish; to lessen.

The living of poor men thereby minished . Latimer.

Minishment <Xpage=926>

Min"ish*ment (?) , n. The act of diminishing, or the state of being diminished; diminution. [Obs.]

Minister <Xpage=926>

Min"is*ter (?) , n. [OE. ministre , F. ministre , fr. L. minister , orig. a double comparative from the root of minor less, and hence meaning, an inferior, a servant. See 1st Minor , and cf. Master , Minstrel .]

1. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.

Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua. Ex. xxiv. 13.

I chose Camillo for the minister , to poison My friend Polixenes. Shak.

2. An officer of justice. [Obs.]

I cry out the on the ministres , quod he, That shoulde keep and rule this cit\'82. Chaucer.

3. One to whom the sovereign or executive head of a government intrusts the management of affairs of state, or some department of such affairs.

Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man. Bacon.

4. A representative of a government, sent to the court, or seat of government, of a foreign nation to transact diplomatic business.

&hand; Ambassadors are classed (in the diplomatic sense) in the first rank of public ministers, ministers plenipotentiary in the second. "The United States diplomatic service employs two classes of ministers, -- ministers plenipotentiary and ministers resident."

Abbott.

5. One who serves at the altar; one who performs sacerdotal duties; the pastor of a church duly authorized or licensed to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments.

Addison.

Syn. -- Delegate; official; ambassador; clergyman; parson; priest.

Minister <Xpage=926>

Min"is*ter , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ministered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ministering .] [OE. ministren , OF. ministrer , fr. L. ministrare . See Minister , n. ] To furnish or apply; to afford; to supply; to administer.

He that ministereth seed to the sower. 2 Cor. ix. 10.

We minister to God reason to suspect us. Jer. Taylor.

Minister <Xpage=926>

Min"is*ter , v. i. 1. To act as a servant, attendant, or agent; to attend and serve; to perform service in any office, sacred or secular.

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister . Matt. xx. 28.

2. To supply or to things needful; esp., to supply consolation or remedies.

Matt. xxv. 44.

Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased? Shak.

Ministerial <Xpage=926>

Min`is*te"ri*al (?) , a. [L. ministerialis : cf. F. minist\'82riel . See Minister , and cf. Minstrel .]